Living on Less

by Mother Earth News

Recommends methods for becoming more self-sufficient and saving money on housing, food, energy, clothing, household furnishings, and entertainment

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1984

Reviews

[Dioscita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn't what I expected but still turned out to be ... well ... charming isn't the right word, but ... entertaining, maybe? I mean, this book is not exactly aimed at folks like me but who just want to be more kind to the environment, live more simply, and save a few bucks whenever possible. Rather, this book is for serious, hard-core DIY-ers who are willing to build their homes from sticks, stones, or straw (literally and no, I'm not kidding). It is full of ways to wrangle deals (via stories of people who end up with 35+ acres of land for free), words of caution (i.e. what happens when access rights are denied and you literally can't get to or leave your own place), and some real "lender/contractor nightmares" like the story of the woman who wanted to build an earth home and had to make multiple design and conservation concessions before she was allowed to proceed. And those are just the land and housing chapters! Other sections give ideas about food/gardening/preserving, raising livestock, and environmentally-friendly hygiene. While I'm not quite at the Mother Earth News level of crunchiness, I still appreciate this book and am getting little flashbulbs of insight as I read (though DH, who only barely tolerates many of my crunchy ways, probably won't want anything to do with these insights!).

[Autumn Kearney · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a cross between wishful thinking and a dream that only rich people can live. Who’s has these kind of skills these days?

[Carissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everything applied to people living in a city, but it was very inspirtational and got my wheels turning as to how I can live more simply.

[Bonnie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great ideas